Has anyone been to the German dive & boat show BOOT?

[lynntr]

If so I am curious as to your experience. If you were a vendor, was it a productive show for you?

 

[300bar]

Boot or Boat(in English)

Been there a couple of times,not as a vendor(thank god)
If you want/like to sell your product at next to no profit,you should go.
If you;re a serious player in the market, don't.

just my 2cts

 

[El Orans]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/shows-events/266180-boot-2009-d-sseldorf-germany.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/shows-events/219451-boot-d-sseldorf-video-interviews.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/shows-events/216768-boot-2008-germany.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/shows-events/174381-boot-2007-germany.html

You can also ask ScubaBoard - View Profile: ben.mcgeever or ScubaBoard - View Profile: xray-mag. I've seen them both at the show.

 

[Mike Ange]

I have been to Das Boot several times - always with mfg companies that I have worked for. The show is huge compared to the US equivalents but the focus of the show is a bit different. The focus is quite simply selling product - now for the US dive market that is sort of a novel concept but believe it or not in many places around the world they think this is the purpose of being in the dive business. (I know I know the misconception is astounding!) Consumers come to the show looking for deals and they do find some. The dealers work on lower margins but they actually get the volume to make it up (instead of just discussing how it should work if they could just get the volume) and the mfgs come to the show for the purposes of market & brand development and to support their dealers with product. One fo the companies I worked for moves 10's of thousands of Euros at Boot annually.

Just the sheer size of the show makes it a worthwhile visit - diving of course is about 10% of the total show size. PLus you get to see/buy products the mfgs are selling in Europe now, traditionally this means we will see it in 12 to 24 months here and the German beer is a pleasant fringe benefit.

Note: We are discussing the possiblilty of organizing a group thing for our readers at SEAduction.com to visit the show for a long weekend - with other activities attached. What is the interest in going?

SAfe Diving,

 

[widget]

Sure, I go every second year.

Its a massive show and well worth the effort. I like the buzz.!

As for the "sales" concept, many shows are going that way internationally now, and, even though I am in the business as it were, I have no issue with it. An associate of mine manufactures Life Jackets for the watersport market under various brand names and attends every year as a vendor selling his "own name branded jackets" - he says gets great feed back from the market who ACTUALLY use his product, which alone makes it worth the effort.

 

[lynntr]

Thank you all for your comments, thoughts and suggestions about BOOT. Helps a great deal.

 

[mdb]

I've been to the show a few times. Always a lot of fun and a good learning experience. A great venue in a very interesting city along the Rhine.